3 challenge incumbent in West Ward

Seeking a third term as Newark's West Ward councilwoman, Mamie Bridgeforth faces three challengers, including one with name recognition.

For 16 years Ronald L. Rice represented the West Ward on the city council until he gave up his seat to run for mayor in 1998 and Bridgeforth was elected. Now Ronald C. Rice, his son, wants to be the ward's representative on the council.

The race is playing out as Part II of the Sharpe James-Cory Booker contest in the 2002 mayoral election. The senior Rice supported James' re-election campaign, while the junior Rice ran on Booker's ticket for an at-large council seat.

Ron Rice Jr., as he likes to be called for the sake of clarity, is teaming up with Booker again, focusing on the ward where he grew up. Bridgeforth is teaming up with Rice's father, who is running for mayor against Booker.

The two other candidates in the West Ward race are novices in elected politics. Derrick Dillard is running as an independent, while Chauncey Robinson is representing the Young Socialists Party. At 20, she is the youngest candidate.

But most of the attention has been on the Bridgeforth-Rice battle.

"I think the West Ward has been the most organized ward in the city in terms of block associations," Rice said. "There used to be a real sense of community. That has not been the case in the last eight years."

He accused Bridgeforth of going along with what he called the failed policies of the James administration and of ignoring crime in the ward. "People want to feel safe. They want cops walking the beat. She has not stood up for that. Crime is out of control."

Bridgeforth said that is "absolutely" not the case: "I have supported community policing. I am an advocate of the mini-precinct. It's not the best, but it beats not having anything."

The councilwoman said she has worked with community groups to raise the conscience on criminal activities. She said she has sponsored forums for parents to teach them how to tell if their children are members of gangs.

"Finally, when it comes to being on the street, I've never seen Mr. Rice at an anti-violence rally. I've never seen him at anything to do with anti-violence."

Bridgeforth said she is running on her record, which includes a number of redevelopment projects in the ward.

She said she is most proud of the progress at the site of the former Pabst Blue Ribbon brewery. After being vacant for more than 25 years, it is being demolished to make way for commercial development. The project, which borders Irvington, will include a strip mall.

"I used to pass that site and say, 'Father, in the name of Jesus, bring Pabst Blue Ribbon down.'"

Other projects in the works include a $2 million renovation of Vailsburg Park, a new senior citizens independent-living facility on Irvington Avenue, and a new police precinct in the ward.

"These things I have worked real hard on," she said. "They will make an enormous difference in our lives."

Rice said his goal is to bring back a sense of community to the West Ward by letting citizens have voice in government. The West Ward Collective would include block associations, a homeowners league and a youth council. "All of us need to be brought to the table."

Rice said he supports putting more police on the streets.

Dillard describes himself as a community leader. "I'm not being controlled," he said. "The people in the neighborhood are supporting me. I could have jumped on anyone's ticket. But I'm an independent candidate. I don't need the endorsement."

An advocate of affordable housing, Dillard said he would push for programs such as First Time Home Buyers and Section 8. "I will make sure that everybody who qualifies for the programs receives them. You can get Section 8 right of the gate. But people don't know that."

Dillard said residents don't take advantage of these programs because they don't how to navigate the system.

The West Ward lacks recreational opportunities for young people, he said. "We have to bring back the basketball leagues and competitive sports. We will bring people together."

Dillard said there has been too much emphasis on downtown development and not enough focus on the neighborhoods: "They're more worried about a hockey arena than the people."

Robinson, representing the Young Socialists Party, said: "For us, it's not about winning an election. We set our sights higher. We want to get rid of the class hierarchy. People don't make enough money."

The party, Robinson said, believes that unions should be stronger and that workers are being exploited. "Someone making $6.50 an hour can hardly afford rent in Newark," she said.

Other issues are socializing health care and nationalizing energy.

Robinson said her perspective goes beyond Newark. She participated in the World Youth Festival in Venezuela and recently visited London, promoting ideas of her party.

But if elected, Robinson said, she is ready to serve. "We take the campaign seriously. If we do get in, we will continue to campaign. But we know we can't change things working inside the system."